MotorMouths

While most of the Grand Sport’s lofty performance can’t be truly realized anywhere but on a race track—an environment where the steering in Corvettes seems to come alive and all their power can be utilized—the GS convertible is easy to drive and more than capable for day-to-day running.

The Grand Sport was whoppingly capable on our favorite back roads. We were also renewed in our amazement for the Corvette as a greatly involving driver’s car. But the convertible top and interior are dated.

The 2013 Corvette accelerates and handles as you’d expect: very, very well. Inside, the Corvette shows a bit of why it costs so little for so much performance, however.

What’s the hottest Corvette convertible ever made in the ’Vette’s storied 58-year history? If we’re talking production models, then it would be the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible.

We forget all about the the flimsy seats, and the cheap controls, when we floor the 427 and experience that amazing sensation of a big pushrod V-8 roaring toward 7000 rpm. It starts at $76,900, which is something of a bargain considering that it basically matches the performance of a $149,000 Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet.

The surprisingly livable 2013 Chevrolet Corvette marks a fitting end to GM’s sixth-generation icon: Enjoy the attention, grab a gear and let ’er rip — all shortcomings are forgiven.

The Chevrolet Corvette is the great American sports car. It’s thrilling to drive and delivers breathtaking acceleration performance and exceptionally tenacious grip for braking and cornering. Yet it’s fairly easy to live with and relatively easy to drive.